Cigar-vending machine.



No. 823,955; I l

" G. W; MEREDITH. v

CIGAR VENDING MACHINE.

v APPLICATION FILED DEC. 7, 1905-.

INVENTOH PAT ENTBDJUNE19, 190 6.

v 3 SHBETS SHEBT 1.

: GEORGEW MEREDI' H' ATTORNEYS Nb. 823,955. PATENTEDJUNE 19,1906. G. W. MEREDITH.

CIGAR VENDING MACHINE.

Arrmoumn FILED 11110.7, 1906.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: I mwslvrofi JATTOHNEIYS GEoRe; WMER'EDITH' PATBNTED JUNE 19,1906.

G. W. MBRBDIJTH.

CIGAR 'VENDING' MACHINE.

Arrmoumn nun) D30. 1. 1905 a sums-sum s.

\ QIA IVENTOB 1 I G O GEW-MEREDITH TTOHNEYS .shafts.'1',and- 2,"arranged m I to the 6 and terminating at its i "smrssg eEoR E'w sHiNGToNi MEREDITH, or WIGHITA, KANSAS, -;As s1GNoR rd I MILO R. MEREDITH, ()F WABA SH,VIN1JIIANA.J

' 1' No. images. 7

I'd-alt whom it may concern/.2 I I -.-Be it known that I, GnoRonWAsm'NGmN .MERED'ITH, a citizen of the United States, and

' a residentiof Wichita, in the'county off sedgwick and State of'Kansas, have invented certain new 'and'useful I m rovements-infligar- Vending Machines, o'fw 'ch the fol lowing is a specification. I Y

.. My invention relates to vending-machine's Y IO in which'articles of merchandise are discharged-from a stock held for sale by working j and manipulating an operating-handle." I Although applicablein most'of its features .to thesale of\any kind of merchandise which .r 1.5 i done up packages of approximately u'niform size,. it'-is especially intended for the ."saleofci gars.. 3' I .Devices'jor selling cigars in this-way haveheretofore been emp oyed but they lacked a a range ofsale to'cover the va'riousgrades and 'fi'ices of cigars ina simple and practical way.

y machine provides for an extension of the "function of thecmachine tofthe'sale of-one 'ci ar for five cents, two for five cents, threefor" a5 "h-ve cents, one for ten cents, three for ten cents, -oneffor a quarter, three for a quarter,

sixfor 'a-q ua rter, or an other number-of cij ga'rs for a single coin ya ue-- up to one dollar.

Fig-lire 1' a vertical longitudinal section ofJthe. vendmg machine:-:j-flaig. 2 is a-detail-f- I fbQlli 5,- andthese-'chain-belts areiconnected I. by .cel1 be'lts,feach' composed of a fiat base gm ,fi,.'lying' parallelj to --the chain/and the 5o 'ent wingportionlfstanding at ri ht angles eeedgein I a round rib 8,, or a crimp "or turnede'over dge-.1

roundafre'e edge forms a 'stifiening-ribi* 4 Spec'ification of 'Letters l'atent. Application filed- December 7,1905. Serial no, 29052:].

cl'eA syzunme" Marci-1mm,

' rgte teuune 19,1906, ,I

cut and also prevents. them from scratching'or skinning the cigars, as herein after de scribed. The part 6, with it's wing'7,

which prevents thc edges of the wings from being e06 crating with the wing 7 next in front of it, orms a cell, as in Fig. 1,- to receive the cigar, and theelids of each cellare'closed by end-flanges 9,fFigs.' 1 and'4, which prevent the endwise displacement of the cigars. 1

v The front Shaft 2 of. the cell belt is provide .at one'end-with a'rigidly-attached gear-wheel 1-0 Fig. 1, which receives motion from a subjacent gear-wheel l 1 on a transverse shaft 2,

journaled intheframework. Thegear-wheel. I

11 has rigidly attachedto its side a disk 12-,

with [two diametrically arran ed ratchet teeth 13 13, which are preferably ocated on its periphery. This shaft and car 11 are-r0-w tated by a gear-wheel 14, w ch is the-last gear of. the train. of wheels actuated by a clock-spring motor 15, whose main shaft bears a bevel-tgear, 1 6, meshing With another bevel-gear'17 on a shaft 18, whose squared endreceives ake by which the spring-motor is wou'nd 1i his spring-motonthrough gears 110"an' 11, serves to drive the endless cell-belt, which carries and dehvers'the c1gars.' When the machine is at rest, these gears are locked by a'detent19, Eig; 1, pivoted at its 1 rear'end to-the framework and having -a ttooth 20, adapted to'strike against one of the ratchet-teeth .13-of the disk ,belowa Tlnsde: tent is 'press'ed down by a co l-wire spring 21,

and may be elevated byl-the operator through? anysuitable lever, pus -b.utton, orhandle of any kind or bya coin-controlled mechanism,

which forms no necessary. art'of this inven- "tione When the'end-22o the-detent is 'elevated and its-tooth Fig, 1 is withdrawn from-the tooth 13 of the ratchet-disk,-themotor mechanism is un'IoekedQand it 'then turns i v the gears 10 andfl 1, and witli them the cellbelt, until the detent takeslulp lagainst the. a

other ratchet-t0oth 1 3.) To the cell belt up to its proper advance,-as against back I movement, a drag-pawl 32, 3, is hinged to the framework and 'dr upon the'periphg e'ry of the toothed gear-w eel 10. a

. The arrangement of the gears 10 and 11 and-the two .r'atchet -teeth-1' 3 13-of the device just described i'sslicha's to cause eve v mg movement vof the detent-19 to disc arge liftoneIcigar only andsuch i wonldqbe required I to discharge one cigar for five cents, one for l ten cents, or one for a quarter. This is ac-.

complished, as seen in Fig. 1, by ma the gear 10with three times as many teet as the gear 11, using two diametrically opposite ratchet-teeth 1.3 13 and so constructing the s rocket-Wheel of the cell-belt that a comp ete revolution of the sprocket-wheel moves the cell-belt a distance of six cells. Then one complete revolution ofgear 11- (one-third of gear will movethe cell-belt two cells. As there are two ratchet-teeth 13 13'to the wheel 11, it is stopped at every half-revolution, which gives the necessary movement of one cell to discharge one cigar each time the key, push-button, or other operatingihandle is manipulated.

I wi nowproceed to describe the relation of the cigar discharging mechanism, the cigar-box; and the intermediate parts, reference beinghad to-Figs.-1.and-4. This is an important and distinctive part of my invention and one upon which-.1 desire to lay-especial -emphasis,,since endless carrier -'ibelts have heretofore been used with vendingmaehines, but operating upon an entire y difierent'principle from'mine.

. In presenting-ina eral we the distincharacteristics -I won d say that when the box of cigarslisto be placed inthe machinethe bottom ofthebox is first removed .and the box is placed upon one of'the vending-machines and the cigarsplaeed back in thebox as it rests above the-vend' -machine. The box is clamped and-held stationary and. the cigars are then fed out to the subjacent cell-belt or carrier by a process which resolves them into a series of vertical tiers, and ray-system feeds the cigars always from the-remote or inner end of the box, carryin-g them along under the superposed cigars -of the tierainfiront of them as the cellbelt movesto-nthefront. This process avoids feeding the 'cigar box along, and thus the apparatus very much more compact, :as a plurality of vendiaig-machines'with their superposed cigar-boxes may be-plaeed-side by-side and c ose to-eaeh other in thesame case, thus permitting the employment :of many such machines in a relatively smail' case.

--Forquickly=adjusting and-firml holding the cigar-boxes above eachmachinh there is armnged npon one-sideof theupperedge of; thetramewm'ka standing flange 34, 4

.. a i: which the lower outside-edge o the sis the box isiFnade-to abut. ,Another 3 7 =11 ewe; flange 35 1 is arr ed on-the. henditrf framewonk at its 11112 25: side 6 projects inside the box and lies immediately:

' against the end wall of-the box. 9n the top. pf the'framework on theopposite side. from; the standing flange34 arepivoted (see Fig:

I '3) two sharp-pointed s rin -:dogs 36 36.;

These converge toward the, x, and -.theirl spring action, as well as'to project 11 seenin Figs. 1 an pointed ends are made to penetrate the soft wood of the box tolhelditfirmly in'place in connection with the standing flanges. 34 35, so that the box cannot shift its position. The spring-dogs36 lie in a horizontal plane and are in the nature of thin blades of anelastic character, and when they are to be entered into the 'wood of the box they are first s rung u some distance, as in Fig. 4, so thatt ey tend when seated in the box to hold the box down upon the table-surface with a revent its displacement in a horizontal ane.

Extending crosswise the ame at its upper surface and close down to the rib edges ofthe cell wings onthe belt are secured a series of fixed horizontal rods 37, Fig. 3. These are arranged parallel to each other at a distance a littlegreaterthan the width of-a cigar and extend over the whole ofthe up er surfiace of the framework. To each one o these stahinged and. swinging leaf 39. The blades. 38 .above/ the .table-snrfiace' of the framewor and throu hthe cigars in thebox,

5 4, and'separate them into a series of vertical tiers: The lower cigar of each vertical tier rests ina cell of the carrier-belt with the hinged leaf 39 lying upon "and lapping :across it.

w 'c'h latter form a 'sort of false bottom for said upper cigars? I As the cell-belt moves forward in.the direction of the arrow all of the ci rs in" the cells of the belt are carried forwar under the superposed cigars, which are notdisturbed. Abrasion of the cigars is revented by the smooth leaves 39 and also y the round ribs tionary rods 37 thereis rigidly attached a I I rthinrverti'cal partition-blade 38,and also a .95 The other c1 ars.of'eaeh tier 'restlupon the 1eav'es 39,

8 ofzthe eell-belt' New when'the box of ciare has'had-its bettomremoved and-has een l'aeed u on'the'framework andthe c gars; lledin etween the stationary-part1.-

tienrb'lades38 the cell-belt in moving forward under the action of the motormechangars. inthe-front tier-are the last ones" to be ed clown, the 'oi rs feeding downward into the cells of the in from therearvertical tier first, and when they are all: received into :thebelt-the next tiergin. front is fedgd'own by -the falling of thehingedleaf. In this connection it be seen that the hinged leaves enthes-ubjaeeht cigars in. the oell -beit act :asrfalse to 'hold .up the super- .pesedci ars-andform asmeoth samfiace-between"-t .lower new of cigars and those -When=-this takes place the hingedleafiil) of thatatier falls and the cigars :above it th'opilowvn into the eellsas they pass under.v It will be seen therefore that the ei- 7 v above it, which prevents abrasion and skin- 'ground up and eventua nin ofthe wrappers. :The main object of will not only e skinned, butwill without the leaves 39 invariably get caught .and be 1y stop the machine,

the ci ars getting caught between the wings 7 and t e preceding cross-bar. The leaf "39.

holds the ci arsup, this leaf -in turnv being,

- held up byt e movm wing 7 until such time I that when the leaf" in s from the moving 'in. allother tiers) the 7 will 'm'advance of'the super osed ci are, so that;

wing 7 (either backto t e succeeding wing, as m-the rear tier, or the succeeding cigar, as

jelfa. little said superposed cigar alls bac instead of, in front of themoving' wing" 7. Thus these;

leaves are absolutely necessary for continuous the beltsix spaces and?aihalf-revolution" three s aces, the. half-revolution being se cured y simplv using two diametrical To discharge six cigars for twenty-five f cents or six fors'ten'ce'nts or six for five cents,

the same gears-are used as inFig. '5, but onlyi i i one ratchet-tooth 13. is used, as shown' in 1 ,Fig. 6; This will give a' complete revolution c of the.sprocketwheels and moves the cell- 7 belt six spaces -for,each movement of the opcrating-handle. c

7.111 y ng ou my invention would" 1 have it understood that I do not confine my self to the exact constructionand arrange 80-; Inent of the machine; as herein. shown, as various cha 'ment may e made without departing from es in construction and arrangemy invention as set forth. in the-claims. a

revolutioii -o'f .spro'cketwheelj movesi tliei "6o For the machines which emm Having thus described my invention, what L- 8 5 I claim as new, and desire to secure byLet I ters Patent',- is% j '1. Ayendin -machi ne, comprising a framework, an 'en' ess belt carrying cells,-actuatj ing devices forthe cell-be t, iaseries of sta-' w o delivery, whether from one, t er or aseries of= 1ers. A A a 7 -.By' the above-described mode offeedin the cigars 'froIn-theback end of the box and carryingl'them in a forwardly-moving row under ,t e cigars infi'ont'ther; cigar-box and' partition-blades 38 are maintained station, ary, -and this avoidsthe necessity of having to feed the entire boxof cigars along'guid'e' ways, which would require thewndmg-machines to be s aced twice the'distance apart if arranged si' e by side and would require an" v inclosingcase twice as':large;. beneath thesuperpo'sed .tiersinf'ront' of it. J j Inor erfto hold the'cells of the carrier-belt 2. A vehdin -machine,,'compri sing a 'fi ame- J in horigontalalinement, the base.- lates' 6 of work, -an en ess belt carr ing cells, actuat the cells are extended at'theends see Fig.4) 1 devices for' the cell-be t, a series of sta-'*- road and are received in-the; flanged-or grooved tionary partition-blades arranged parallel toe-trip"s 40501 whi h there is one on'ea'chi' each other above the c -b Y. r 's1e. 1 .I'Ihayelalready described in. connection" :with E 1'g'; 1 how a single cigar isdischar ed .for a singlecoin of five, ten; or twenty-five each 0t or above the ceilf'b'elt transversely;

thereto and fixed at'their lower edges rigidly to "the framework, means for holding the artoitheframework, leaves hinged at the lower. Ted es of the partitionblades' and arranged to x hofii the superposed articles and allow them;

4 cents. '1 fnowdescribe how one two, tatmp successively; asdescribed. tlrreep orislx 01 are may be discharged fora 3; Avendin' -m achine, comprlsmga framesingle coin. or this pi ose the-.vendi work, an en ess belt: carrying 0011s,: actuate 5 mach nes ar'e 'made exact y: like, the .zone 11,

I p yin devices for the cell belt, a series ofparals l io ready described, with the exception thedriVIn'gTgears; I a m 1-. a

jo r=machlnes which discharge two cigars cell-belt, afseries of upwardly-projecting-andj -for. five cents or twofor twenty-five cent'sthe; arallel pa'rtitiomblades attached, at their; gearsare asshown in 'Fig". 2'. ,The cells-1Q v c and-11 bear the sameiratio'oi teeth-(threejto ties of pivoted leaves hinged to saidrod's and one) as-1n Fig, .1; but thedisklilf-i'hasEbnly; one 'ratchet t'ooth 13-.v "Now as complete.

ottomsfasfdeseribed; 2 v

.-fa-lse': 4 E --Q43Aireriding-1iiachine,comprising a'frame 2 7 I v I H p v work, anlendless}belt carrying cells,'said\ce1ls1 r Pf ,4 8 1 11 711 i'l lim ng l-m d. -fl P a e h figi w revolution-,'z -and one-third-ofsix'is t "-"whichl -"gular wings with rounded 'ands'tifiened outer discharges themconten'ts --of two i'selfs --.'ell.'chf .edges,stationary'upwardly rojectin partij' trmethe operatin'g han'dle,isworkeda. i' .tion-blades fixed 'to the amewor ,--and" .5'5 cell-beltsix spacesone coiijiplete gsvqiutis WB I'Q e h wh e i h d 1' sx 'eq e size and oi the same weeth; Bothat .completej revolt on ther gear'moveg r-titien-bladesI tionary artition-bl'adesarranged parallel to ticles betweenthepartition-blades.invertical tiers, andmean's for' feedlng thereermost t1er thereto and fixedat their lower ends rigidly i:

le horizontal rods 'extendin across-andijat 1 -'..tached at their ends to. the ame abovethe ower edges :to'th'e horizontalrods,---an d i a 86% i '1'15 arranged? to---form automatically-dropping-.-

-me'ans for'moving the celhbelt under thep'ar 1": 5

or anendless belt carrymg c sid @6115 J I:

parallel h ri on al amewerkjto reepiv 13 the cell extensions, a series oi -(parallel up-' stationary position above thefcell-belt and work, anend tion-blades arranged above the cell-be t and proj eating upwardly from the framework'and adapted to enter-the articles held for sale in wardly-projecting partition-bla es fixed in extending down close to" the edgesof the cells, as held up to true alinement by the guides.

6. A vending-machine, comprising a frame:

ess cell-belt, stationary artitheir original packing-box, and means for actuating the'belt.

7.- A vendin -machine, comprising a framework, an endless cell-beltfstationary artition-blades arranged above th e cell-be t and projecting upwardly from the framework and adapted to enterthe articles held for sale in the original packing box, means for locking said box-against displacement, and means foractuati'ng the belt.

8. A ven -machine, comprising a frame:

7 work, an end ess cell-belt, stationary I artition-blad'e's above the cell-be t and:

projecting upwar y from the framework and adapted to enter the articles held for sale in the original cking-box, means for loo said box bot against horizontal and ver tioa gislp'laeement, and means for actuating the e t. l 9. A vending-machine, comprising a framework, an endless cell-belt, actuating devices for the same; stationary partition-blades projecting upwardly from-the framework and adapted to enter the articles held fOISBJlB in the original packing-box, stationary vertical abutment-flanges arranged on top -of-"-the' framework for the packing-box to abut against, and pivoted dogs sharpened in '-axle with sprocket-who teeth adapted to enter the material of the box and hold it against the abutment-flanges.

10. A vending' machine, comprising a framework, an endless cell-belt, actuating I devices for the same, stationary abutments projecting upwardly from the framework, and toothed dogs ivoted to the framework to swing liorizonta y and constructed as elastic bars to be sprung up and be put under downward stress to hold the box down on the framework.

less belt having cells'formincarriers, a driving-axle with sprocket-whee s distending the be t, a. gear-wheel fixed rigidly on 4 the sprocket-axle, a second gear-wheel meshing with the firstsnamed gear-wheel and having teethwhose number is a multiple of the number in the first named gear, a disk with sto teeth-correlated in number to the gear-whee s and cells of the belt, a detent for the toothed disk and a motor mechanism substantimllyas described.

- GEORGE WASHINGTON MEREDITH,

Witnesses:

J. 0. HERMANN, E. G GALLANT. 

